Rutgers subsidy increases 67.9 percent to nearly $47 million

In order to fund a sports program that university officials say will generate close to $200 million of additional revenue in its first 12 years in the Big Ten, Rutgers subsidized the athletics department nearly a quarter of that amount last year, according to the institution’s financial report filed to the NCAA last month.

The report, obtained in response to an open-records request from USA Today Sports and Indiana University’s National Sports Journalism Center, shows that the Rutgers athletics department received nearly $47 million in subsidies from the university’s allocations fund to make up for a shortfall in the approximately $79 million athletics budget during the 2012-13 season. It’s an increase of 67.9 percent from the $27.9 million subsidy the athletics department received in 2012.

The $46,996,697 total subsidy, which includes $9,877,989 in student fees, $12,601 in government support specifically earmarked for the athletics department and $37,106,107 in direct institutional aid, is by far the most an NCAA Division I public school athletics program has received in a single year during the nearly 10 years in which USA Today Sports has examined spending and revenue data.

The nearly $47 million subsidy from an institution that partially relies on taxpayer funds means the state university subsidized 59.5 percent of the athletics department’s total allocations. That’s the largest percentage since 2005 — a 15.8 percent spike from last year — and its total allocated revenue is an amount that is greater than the total athletic operating revenues of all but 53 of Division I’s 228 public school athletics programs in 2011-12.

About Keith Sargeant

Keith Sargeant is a graduate of Middlesex County College and Kean University. A Home News Tribune staff writer since August 1997, Keith has been covering Rutgers sports since 2000, serving as the Scarlet Knights' football beat writer since 2006.

This past Sunday marked the fourth annual Roman's Soldiers Showcase at the Indoor Sports Pavilion in Randolph. The event, which has become March tradition in New Jersey, is hosted and directed by former NFL offensive lineman and current NFL Director of Youth & High School Football Roman Oben.

PISCATAWAY, N.J. -- Kevin Wilkins came a long way from the guy that arrived late to Rutgers last spring. The near 300-pound nose tackle finds himself solidly in a defensive line rotation for spring camp, and discussed his role and progress with Scout during the first week of practice.

Jon Pollock and Friend Trey Sneed are Heading to Rutgers for a Visit. Is a Sneed Commit imminent? Coming home to the banks with @TreySneedFL #CHOPNation #BacktoRutgers pic.twitter.com/e6ShJ6Brzq— The Hit Man (@kingpollock) April 2, 2015 Rutgers chief Florida recruiter, linebacker commit Jonathan Pollock, is headed back to the Banks, with his friend, RB prospect Trey […]

Robert Barchi speaks, and it's GOOD NEWS Today, Keith Sargeant* and Ryan Dunleavy* broke a story that would be better off appearing on Christmas instead of April 1st. *Click on the links for the full reads. Totally worth it. Robert Barchi said that Rutgers is very close to completing a plan for a major facilities upgrade. The first phase […]

Rutgers quarterback Chris Laviano played in five games last season as the backup quarterback, but with Gary Nova looking for his spot in the NFL, the starting job is up for grabs this season (NJ.com, March 31). Laviano will compete with Hayden Rettig and Giovanni Rescigno for the starting spot, but he said he thinks he […]

Rutgers President Robert Barchi can think of plenty of reasons how the school has benefited from their introduction into the Big Ten Conference, and he outlines many of them in his letter to state senator Raymond Lesniak in hopes of explaining the need to upgrade the school’s athletic facilities (NJ.com, March 30). “Our athletic programs, […]

About the Author

Jerry CarinoJerry Carino has covered sports for the Gannett New Jersey newspapers since 1996 and has been on the college basketball beat since 2003. A native of Old Bridge, he also teaches journalism at Kean University.E-mail Jerry

Josh NewmanJosh Newman has worked for the Press since September 2004 and began covering Shore Conference sports full time in September 2006. He is a 2004 graduate of Springfield College with a degree in communications/sports journalism.E-mail Josh

Ryan DunleavyRyan Dunleavy has covered Rutgers athletics for more than a decade, dating back to his days as a student at his alma mater. He became New Jersey Press Media’s Rutgers women’s basketball beat writer in 2009 and Rutgers football beat writer in 2013. Since joining the staff in 2004, the Morris County native also has covered the NFL, MLB, NBA, the Somerset Patriots and high school sports.E-mail Ryan